Are you starting up a fitness routine, but you’re not sure where to begin? Getting back into shape doesn’t have to be overly complicated or difficult.
This bodyweight circuit is comprised of 6 exercises that will tone and strengthen the entire body without the use of equipment or weights. Try it out for yourself.
Complete each move for 45 seconds before taking a 15-second break and moving onto the next exercise.
Walking lunges
- Begin standing with your feet hip-width apart
- Take a step forward and plant your foot flat on the floor in front of your body
- Ensure your foot is stable before you start transferring weight onto this foot
- Drop your hips down and bend your front leg until your front knee is in alignment with your toes
- To come out of the lunge, pull your front leg under your torso to recruit more from your glutes instead of pushing off the ground to move forward
Tricep dips
- Sit on the edge of a secure chair or bench
- Position your hands hip-width apart
- Extend your legs in front of you and slide your buttocks off the edge of the platform
- Keep your elbows slightly bent and fingers relaxed
- Slowly bend your elbows to lower your body toward the floor until your elbows are bent approximately 90 degrees
- As you descend, be sure to keep your hips as close to the platform as possible
- Pause at the bottom of this movement, then press down through your hands to push yourself up to the starting position for one rep
Squat-to-side kicks
- Begin standing with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart with your hands clasped in front of your chest
- Drop down into a low squat position
- As you push through your legs to drive your body upwards, shift your weight to your right leg and kick your left leg out to the side
- Plant your left leg back on the floor and drop into another squat for one rep
- Repeat the movement, this time kicking the right leg outward
Incline push-ups
- Begin standing in front of a box or a bench
- Place both hands slightly wider than your shoulder-width apart on a bench or box
- Step your legs back into a plank position keeping your body in a straight line and your head aligned with your spine
- Bend your arms to slowly lower yourself down towards the box or bench
- Once you are an inch or so above the bench, extend your arms and press yourself back to the starting position for one rep
Jackknife sit-ups
- Begin laying on the floor with your arms and legs extended
- Your back should be straight and your spine should be in a neutral position
- Take in a deep breath and as you exhale contract your core and simultaneously draw both your extended arms and legs upward and toward one another
- Modification: Complete the same action but one arm and leg at a time, focusing on contracting your core and keeping your lower back pressed into the floor
- Hold this position for about 3 seconds before dropping both your arms and legs back to the starting position in a controlled manner
Belly-drop burpees
- Begin standing with your feet hip-width apart and both of your arms down by your sides
- Lower your body down into a squat position
- Once you’ve dropped down as low as you can, place both hands on the floor in front of your chest
- Walk or jump your feet backwards until you’re in a plank position
- Bend your arms and lower yourself down to the floor
- Push yourself back up to a plank position before jumping your feet in towards your hands and returning to a squat position
Once you have completed all of the exercises in sequential order rest for 1 minute then repeat the circuit a total of 3 times.